Northwest, Taozhou.
The Tao River flows down from the southern plateau to Lanzhou in the north, where it merges into the Yellow River.
In the dark chamber, the candlelight on the east side lit up, and a black figure appeared behind the curtain.
Immediately, a hoarse voice sounded: "Accurate news, the King of Nanchang and His Royal Highness the King of England will arrive in Lintao in four days."
"How come it's so fast? A normal march should take at least twenty days." The candlelight in the west lit up, and the black shadow behind was obviously panicked.
The candlelight in the north then lit up, but the figure behind was obviously very calm: "The cavalry left the infantry, and food was prepared along the way. It's hard not to think about it quickly. Your Majesty is trying to catch everyone off guard."
"What should I do? I haven't packed up yet. There are only four days left in the original twenty days. How can I get so much food?" The figure to the west could not help but tremble.
"It's not four days, it's three days." The figure in the east spoke again: "The Duke of Yan led his army to Taozhou one day in advance, but he only stayed in Taozhou for a while, and then led his troops to Hezhou, and then left from Hezhou The state goes west along the Yellow River to the plateau."
"Three days?" The figure in the west's voice suddenly became shrill.
"Don't scare him." The figure from the north spoke again. He rolled his eyes at the east side as if he was annoyed, and then said calmly: "The food we have raised now is enough to cope with it for a while, and the rest can be taken care of slowly. Take your time."
"It's okay, it's okay." Xi Mian's voice obviously listened to Bei Mian's words, and his mood calmed down instantly. Then he looked to Nan Mian: "How is the situation of the Zhang family?"
The candlelight in the south lit up, and a calm voice sounded: "The Zhang family does not participate much. The seven, seven, eight, or eight that have been raised can be used for a while in advance."
"That's good." The figure in the north breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at the three of them and said, "Although we didn't have the opportunity to go to the battlefield for this battle, His Majesty sent His Royal Highness and the King of Nanchang to Taozhou, which shows that we are facing The importance attached to this battle also shows the importance attached to us. Many of our family members are also serving in the former army, so there is no room for any mistakes in the transportation of food and grass."
"That's right." The figure in the east clapped his hands, the figure in the south nodded slightly, and only the figure in the west smiled reluctantly.
"Okay, that's it for tonight. We'll check and fix the leaks according to the previous arrangements. If someone has a problem in the future, then don't blame others for being ruthless and annihilating your clan alone." The figure from the north said the last sentence. Cruel words, and immediately, the candlelight behind the curtains on the east and south sides suddenly went out.
There was a slight sound of footsteps, and the figure behind the curtain had disappeared.
At this time, the figure in the west couldn't help but complained: "Brother Chen, you know that the Zhang family and the Li family have always worn the same pair of trousers. The two families have been married to each other for who knows how many years. Something happened in Chang'an this time. , as soon as the people from Yushitai and Dali Temple came, they immediately adjusted food from their own warehouses to make up for everything, but my Yang family... The Yang family is in a difficult situation!"
"Of course the Li family will not allow anything to happen in the Western Expedition. After all, in the entire Lintao, the Li family has the most titles; not to mention, the world belongs to the Li family, so it is nothing more than doing something secretly in private. If it really touches When it comes to serious matters, the clan punishment of the Li family is no joke." "Brother Chen" from the north looked cold.
When nothing goes wrong, everyone is naturally good friends, but once something goes wrong, everyone sells faster than the other.
The figure named Yang in the south didn't know what to say for a moment, and his face was very ugly.
The Li family is now the clan. Although the minister of Zongzheng Temple has fallen into the hands of outsiders, there is still an elite clan army of 500 people in Taozhou. This is specially allowed by the emperor, and they can even be dragged into the battlefield at critical moments. Combat.
On weekdays, punishing clan members who violate clan rules is also a powerful deterrent.
It is precisely because of the presence of this clan soldier that although the Didao Li family is a royal family, they do not act recklessly in the local area.
Only three or two people were unworthy, and they were dragged into a small group to do all kinds of shameful things.
"Brother Chen" in the north smiled softly, and then continued: "You don't have to worry, my Chen family will help you make up half of the shortfall in your family, and take your time with the rest. Although the King of England stayed in Taozhou, but Nanchang Wang, he is always going to Hezhou.”
Taozhou and Hezhou are important transshipment places for grain and grass for the army.
But Duke Li Jinxing of Yan leads the army to march westward, so the land of Hezhou must be watched by the King of Nanchang. By then, Taozhou will be much better.
The figure surnamed Yang in the west felt completely relieved and said to Brother Chen, "Thank you so much, Brother Chen. Let's have two more drinks if you take the time."
"good!"
…
After watching the figure named Yang leave, "Brother Chen" turned sideways and looked towards the shadows to the west: "You heard what I just said, what do you say?"
"The Tubo cavalry has already set off. When the King of Nanchang and the King of England arrive in Taozhou, they will appear in the deep mountains and forests of Lintan. After that, they will choose an opportunity to attack Taozhou City. When the time comes, your chance will come. ." A slender figure walked out of the dark shadows. This man was quite tall but very thin.
"So what if you come? Although Lintan belongs to Taozhou, it is on a high mountain. It is easy to get up the mountain but difficult to get down. There are too many Tubo people coming and they can't get down the mountain. If there are too few people coming, they can't even get through the city. Brother Ma , Don’t forget that there is still a troop of 300 soldiers stationed at the foot of the mountain. The King of Nanchang’s 1,600 cavalry arrived and gathered these soldiers. The Tubo people... I’m afraid they can only be used for meritorious deeds.” "Brother Chen" couldn't help but show a hint of disdain on the corner of his mouth.
"Brother Ma" said softly: "Brother Chen, anyway, what you and I want is just a rise in the price of food in Lintao to make up for the losses caused by this incident. Whether the Tibetan people come or not has little to do with you or me. "
"Brother Chen" narrowed his eyes slightly and said softly: "Ma Zhi, your Ma family has always done horse business between Tang Dynasty and Tubo, but it is best not to get too close to Tubo. Although we have our plans , but I definitely don’t want the Tubo people to really attack Taozhou and kidnap the King of England, otherwise, even if I don’t talk to you, Your Majesty will attack us in Taozhou and start a killing spree.”
Ma Zhi smiled stiffly at the corner of his mouth, and then quickly waved his hand and said: "Where did Brother Chen go? Naturally, Ma knows this kind of thing. If Longxi really turns into a wasteland, my Ma family will also be afraid." There’s no escape.”
"Brother Chen" nodded, and then said: "I don't care about Tubo affairs, and the King of Nanchang is not someone to be trifled with..."
"But he is young after all. Even if Huo Qubing is reborn, he will inevitably die." Ma Zhi's words were full of contempt, and in the end he even said disdainfully: "As for the things he did in Wuzhou, who knows who helped him do it of."
"Brother Chen" waved his hand and said: "You and I don't know anything about Wuzhou, but it is a fact that the Chang'an Demon Sect was damaged several times at the hands of the King of Nanchang. This shows how difficult he is to deal with."
"Then use your methods properly." Ma Zhi bowed slightly, then stepped back and exited the secret room.
"Brother Chen" stayed alone in the secret room. After half an hour, he slowly stood up and said softly: "If the King of Nanchang is Huo Qubing, he may not be able to kill enough this time and directly destroy Tubo. "
…
Under the bright moonlight, the earth was illuminated brightly.
Behind a certain restaurant in the southeast of Taozhou City, half an hour after Ma Zhi left, "Brother Chen" finally appeared. The last carriage drove up, picked up Brother Chen and headed north.
Another half an hour passed, and no one appeared in the restaurant.
From the shadows at the corner of the street, a figure walked out and chuckled: "It's rare that we caught a big fish, five of us!"
After the words fell, the figure retreated into the dark shadows again.
…
On March 23rd, at the east gate of Taozhou City, the Taozhou governor, Zhang Yungong, the governor of Anlu County, who was only sixty years old, with gray hair on his temples, and a group of officials from the state government, department officials and police officers, came There were also the county magistrates and subordinate officials from Lintao and Lintan counties waiting respectfully.
It's just that the waiting time was a little long, which made them a little impatient and looked eastward from time to time.
They had arrived at the city gate in the afternoon, and it was getting dark now, but there was still no trace of the King of Ying and the King of Nanchang.
Tao Governor Shi Qinian couldn't help but stepped forward and whispered: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the King of England and the King of Nanchang will not miss the time."
"No." Zhang Yungong shook his head slightly and said: "The military order from the Ministry of War is very strict, requiring His Royal Highness the King of England and the King of Nanchang to arrive in Taozhou today. It is even said that they arrived in Qinzhou yesterday... maybe because they have been traveling for days. I was tired, so I slowed down... The official document from the Ministry of War only said it was today, but did not say when it was, even if..."
At this moment, a burst of rapid horse hooves came from the north at great speed.
Then, a Taozhou soldier named Captain Cao came quickly with three or five cavalry, came to Zhang Yungong, and stood up and dismounted like lightning.
The captain said in a hurried tone: "Replying to the envoy, the King of Nanchang sent a message: His Royal Highness has gone to Huaili to pay tribute to his ancestors' tombs according to the order. General Qianniu Wei Qiulang will lead 1,400 cavalry and will arrive at the city in half an hour. Please also ask your envoy to arrange it."
"Oh, it turns out we went to Huaili." Zhang Yungong suddenly came to his senses.
Lintao Huaili is the origin of the Li family in Longxi, and the family has thousands of children scattered throughout Taozhou.
In the Huaili Cemetery, there is the tomb of Li Hao, the founder of the Tang Dynasty, King Wuzhao.
After King Nanchang and King Ying came to Taozhou, they went to worship their ancestors first, and there was no problem at all.
After all, the surname Li belongs to the clan, and family affairs are state affairs, not to mention the emperor's imperial edict. It's hard to say that this is still a sacrifice for the emperor.
"Okay, everyone, have you heard me? Prepare to make arrangements. The army is about to arrive." Zhang Yungong looked solemn. He was about to continue to say something when he suddenly paused slightly and asked: "You just said Qianniu Weiqiu General Lang, not General Lang Qiu?"
Captain Bingcao immediately raised his hands and said: "Replying to the envoy, it is not General Qiu Zhonglang. It is said that he is the nephew of General Qiu Shenji, General Qiu Zhonglang of Jinwu Guard, and now Qiu Zhenmu, General Qianniu Guard."
"That's the same." Zhang Yungong took a breath and said solemnly: "Tianshui Qiu family, their people are here too. Just as this one went down, that one came up again. The inheritance of the family is in order... Okay , make good arrangements, and I will treat this Qiu Lang general well later,"
"Follow the order!" Many officials present handed over their hands at the same time, but some of their expressions changed slightly. The Tianshui Qiu family is not easy to mess with!
(End of chapter)
